Peterson drug test casts doubt on Khan rematch

FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2011, file photo, boxer Lamont Peterson speaks during a news conference, in Washington. Peterson failed a drug test, putting a May 19 light-welterweight rematch in Las Vegas against former title holder Amir Khan in doubt, a Nevada boxing official said Tuesday, May 8, 2012. (A

/ AP

FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2011, file photo, boxer Lamont Peterson speaks during a news conference, in Washington. Peterson failed a drug test, putting a May 19 light-welterweight rematch in Las Vegas against former title holder Amir Khan in doubt, a Nevada boxing official said Tuesday, May 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, File)

FILE - This March 13, 2012 file photo shows WBA and IBF light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson, left, of the United States, and British Boxer Amir Khan, posing following a news conference in London. A Nevada regulator says Peterson failed a drug test, and a May 19 rematch in Las Vegas against

/ AP

FILE - This March 13, 2012 file photo shows WBA and IBF light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson, left, of the United States, and British Boxer Amir Khan, posing following a news conference in London. A Nevada regulator says Peterson failed a drug test, and a May 19 rematch in Las Vegas against former title holder Khan is in doubt. (AP Photo/Brynjar Gauti, FIle)

FILE - This March 13, 2012 file photo shows WBA and IBF light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson, left, of the United States, and British Boxer Amir Khan, posing following a news conference in London. A Nevada regulator says Peterson failed a drug test, and a May 19 rematch in Las Vegas against former title holder Khan is in doubt. (AP Photo/Brynjar Gauti, FIle) (/ AP)

Lamont Peterson's scheduled May 19 rematch with Amir Khan in Las Vegas has been called into doubt after a Nevada boxing official said Peterson failed a drug test.

Separate tests on a second sample from the same time were positive May 2, Kizer said, citing a report he received Monday from Dr. Margaret Goodman, VADA chief executive, former Nevada Athletic Commission member and ringside physician.

"Unless there's some real obvious and legitimate reason for the positive test, he's not fighting," Kizer told The Associated Press.

Kizer said Peterson (30-1-1, with 15 KOs) isn't currently licensed to fight in Nevada, but would usually get routine approval in the next several days for the fight scheduled next week at the Mandalay Bay resort.

Now, Peterson needs to win an appeal to the five-member commission, which isn't scheduled to meet until May 21.

Kizer said Peterson's Washington, D.C.-based lawyer, Jeff Fried, promised him an explanation by the end of the day Tuesday.

Khan's promoter, Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions in Los Angeles, said it's premature to say whether the Peterson-Khan fight will be held.

"If he is allowed to fight, obviously we will fight," Schaefer said. "We're going to wait to see what the Athletic Commission decides. It would be impossible to find an opponent within a week and a half for a fight of this caliber."

Goodman and Dr. Edwin "Flip" Homansky, a former Nevada Athletic Commission member also affiliated with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, declined to comment on Peterson's test. They cast VADA as a neutral testing agency.

Kizer said Fried told him Peterson recalls receiving testosterone treatment from a doctor before his first fight against Khan ended in controversy last December in Washington.

"He's saying Peterson's only real fault was that he failed to report therapeutic use of testosterone," Kizer said.

Khan (26-2, with 18 knockouts) lost his WBA and IBF belts in a split-decision loss to Peterson on Dec. 10, but was granted a rematch after complaining about the referee's decision to deduct him two points for pushing. He also was upset by the presence of an unauthorized man at ringside who was seen distracting an official.